Aerospace | Office of Technology Licensing

Available Technologies by Category
Variable Center of Gravity for Coaxial Aircraft	Efficient- improved payload capacity and increased efficiency Cheaper- reduction in maintenance cost per flight hour due to decreased complexity of rotating components Simpler- reduction in the mechanical complexity	7654
Carbon Nanotube Cold Cathodes	More efficient electric propulsion Reduced power and mass expenditures Does not require gas flow to emit electrons	4127
Frequency-Output Gyroscope	Low-cost Constant resonant frequency of the drive mode Better sensitivity – minimal detectable frequency is only limited by short-term stability and counting period length	4682
Oxyfuel Combustor Arrangements to Reduce Emissions	Reduce carbon dioxide emissions Reduce costs Improves power production and fuel efficiency	4897
Aerodynamic Drag Reduction at Low Angles of Attack	Substantial drag reduction	3583
Infrared-Emitting Quantum Dots	Robust – more stable than current quantum dots Tunable – optical properties are tunable based on size, structure, and composition of the quantum dots Efficient IR-emission – allows for enhanced display definition and multi-band IR scene projection	7893
High Strength and High Modulus Carbon Fibers	Lighter – Carbon fiber is lighter than metals and exhibits significantly higher strength characteristics Stronger and More Thermally Stabile – Process produces stronger fibers by using new processing techniques Lower Energy Manufacturing – Process does not require ultra-high temperature for heat treatment of fibers	6716
Cable-Driven Four-Bar Link Leg Mechanism	Reduces the weight and improves performance of the mechanism by placing all actuators inside the body Structurally efficient – significant portion of loads are carried by the cable which is an efficient structure Actuator loads are significantly reduced through mechanism linking, increasing the longevity of the mechanism	7592
Tensegrity Lattices for Structural Applications	Can be severely deformed and still not suffer permanent deformities Provides high energy absorption while making possible to recover the geometry after impact Concept can be immediately applied to larger structures	7425
Reconfigurable Antennas for Radar Applications	Innovative — Origami-based accordion structure enables variable physical deployment of antenna Reconfigurable — Varying extent of physical deployment reconfigures antenna frequency band, radiation pattern, and gain Cost-reductive — Configurability allows for changing complexity of antenna packages	6357
Aerodynamically-Adaptive Platforms using Distributed Bleed Flow Control	Safe – mitigates or completely suppresses adverse effects of flow-induced vibrations and aero-elastic instabilities High Performance – enables aircraft maneuverability and light-weight, efficient wing designs Improved Reliability – reduces flow damage to aerostructures and allows extended lifetime	6238
Submersible Vehicle Design Based on Biomimicry of Batoids	Extended range: This vehicle’s propulsion system does not require refueling, allowing for long range deployments. Nearly silent: Its limited use of mechanical components reduces the acoustic signature. Highly maneuverable: Scalable system provides three-dimensional maneuvering capabilities	6019
Fuel-Optimal Flight in Uncertain Wind	Accurate: Process uncertainty model provides more accurate results than current models Efficient: Optimization model provides fuel-optimal air speed over flight path Novel: First method to leverage knowledge of wind forecast uncertainty in a random process framework	5878
CNT-Based Devices Using Thin-Film Technologies	Requires very low operating voltage Yields a compact field emitter package Avoids electrical shorts caused by emitter-gate contact	5806
Non-Destructive Quality Control of Automated Weld Processes	Eliminates cut checks: Provides a nondestructive method for evaluating weld quality Real-time inspections: Allows for automation of welding operations Goes long: Uses Lamb waves to test welds over a larger area than is possible using higher frequency ultrasound waves	5680
Improved Adaptive Control System Using Selectable Parameters	Faster: Requires less complexity in the code, enabling faster control response times Smoother: Improves control stabilization and tracking performance Versatile: Augments existing nonadaptive control systems without modifying the gains employed in those systems	5619
Deployable Gridded Ion Thruster	Enables efficient ion thruster propulsion capability for cubesats Deploys large surface area gridded ion thruster from small stowed internal volume Enables, via large deployed size, efficient propellant ionization, high propellant utilization, and passive cooling	7241
Autonomous Indoor Robotic Blimps	Miniature size and low cost Flight duration of more than 3 hours Safe interaction with humans	7136

Technologies